JOINT COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT, TRANSPORT, CULTURE AND THE GAELTACHT debate -
Tuesday, 28 Feb 2012

Scrutiny of EU Legislative Proposals

Chairman

COM (2011) 120 is a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and the Council relating to tyres for motor vehicles and their trailers and their fitting. It is for codification purposes. It is proposed that the proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

COM (2011) 856 is a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the sound levels of motor vehicles. It is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Do members wish to comment on it?

Deputy Kevin Humphreys

It would be helpful if we alerted the Department that there might be a need for legislation to ensure a minimum sound level in vehicles in the interests of those who are visually disabled.

Chairman

We note the Deputy's suggestion. Is it agreed that the proposal does not warrant further scrutiny? Agreed.

COM (2011) 884 is a proposal for a Council regulation establishing the Europe for Citizens programme to promote European citizenship for the period between 2014 and 2020. It is proposed that the proposal does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed?

Deputy Catherine Murphy

Although the proposal does not require further scrutiny, the kind of European Union we will have is clear and how it will be promoted is a live issue. It seems the programme does not have specific policy implications for Ireland, but will we be involved in any way? What input will we have? I presume the Joint Committee on European Affairs will have some input.

Chairman

Yes. I can provide a general summary of the programme for the Deputy. The European Commission intends to use the proposal as an important vehicle to build capacity for civic participation in tandem with other initiatives. It will also use it as a means of delivering on citizens' needs and promoting citizens' rights. It aims to address the need for better debates on EU issues at local, regional and national level that can be translated from a pan-European perspective. That is generally what it sets out to do. The programme will build on the success of the Europe for Citizens programme which has been running since 2007 and will conclude in 2013. Its general objective will be to strengthen remembrance and enhance capacity for civic participation at EU level. As I understand it, the proposal before the committee is very general and aspirational and does not have top-line specific content. It is proposed that it does not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Sitting suspended at 2.55 p.m. and resumed at 2.58 p.m.